Showcase



Dec. 25, 1951 c, uss 2,580,029

A SHOWCASE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1946 l N V EN TOR. @gva/wda/r BY Dec. 25, 1951 uss 2,58Q,029

SHOWCASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1946 INVENTOR.

C. KRAU 55 Dec. 25, 195.1

SHOWCASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 11, 1946 INVEN TOR Wflf Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE The-present invention relates to a showcase and especially to novel construction and assembly of a sectional show or display case which may be shipped in a knocked-down condition and quickly and easily assembled at its ultimate location.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel showcase so constructed and arranged as to facilitate assembly and glaz- Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel showcase constructed of sections so that it may be produced and shipped knocked-down or in sections, and when delivcred may be quickly assembled. By shipping in 'such knocked-down or disassembled relation, the cost of shipping is greatly reduced for the reason that the mounting or assembly upon a suitable base'and glazing is accomplished at the ultimate location, the parts being so designed and constructed as to permit one without previous experience to make the assembly.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, eificiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are. inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated' in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible oi modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in perspective of the novel showcase assembly, the base being shown in dotted. outline.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the top frame.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the back frame.

Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective view of one of the corner upright assemblies.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pair of corner upright assemblies mounted at the corners of the bottom members.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the front and side bottom members and showing the manner of securing these members together.

Fig. '7 is a view in horizontal cross-section taken in a plane respresented by the line 'Il of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the} front and side bottom or'frame members.

6 Claims; (01. 312-114) Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the end of the front bottom frame member and showing the manner of mounting an angle for securing adjacent frame members to gether in the manner shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternate construction of back frame.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view in horizontal crosssection taken through the right end of the showcase in Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view in vertical crosssection taken in a plane represented by the line I2-l2 of Fig. 1.

Referring more specifically to the embodiment selected in the drawings to illustrate the novel invention, the show or display case therein disclosed comprises an assembly consisting of preformed sections shipped in knocked-down condition and adapted to be mounted upon a selected base I at the location where it is to be installed or" assembled. This assembly includes a back frame 2, a top frame 3, two or more upright front members 4 and front and side bottom members 5 and 6, respectively. The front and side bottom members 5 and. 6 may be brazed together at their corners to form a continuous mitered glass channel, or they may be joined together by an angle insert 1 as shown more clearly in Figs. 6, 7 and 9. The opposite ends of the angle insert are adapted to receive screws or bolts 8, each carried in a lug 9 provided in and bridging channels ID in the under surface of the front and side bottom members 5 and 6.

The back frame 2, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, comprises an upper horizontal rail II, a lower horizontal rail I2 and vertical or upright end rails or Supports l3, l3. These upright end rails are provided with an inturnedfiange H extending for a substantial part of the length there of, and an inwardly projecting bar or plate In: disposed at the opposite ends of the lower rail l2 and provided with spaced tapped openings for the reception of screws [6, each plate or bar !5 being also adapted to be conformably received within the channel ID, on the under surface of the side bottom members 6. 'The rails H, 52 and 13 are formed. to provide inwardly opening spaced channels H and I8 (Fig. 12) extending completely about the inner periphery of the back frame 2 for the reception of sliding glass panels or the l ke l9 and 20. The bottom rail i2 is also provided with inwardly projecting ribs 2! so disposed as to receive and retain balls or other bearing members 22 upon which the sliding doors or panels l9 and 2!] are moved. To facilitate their movement each door or panel is provided with a channel member 23 adapted to receive the lower end of the panel and having its base 24 rounded or contoured in such manner as to conform to the curvature of the ball or bearings upon which the doors or panels are slid.

The front and side bottom members and as shown more clearly in Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, are formed in the manner shown in cross-section in Fig. '7 to provide an upwardly opening channl or groove 25, the downwardly opening groove or channel It referred to above, and an inward'y projecting flange 26. The upwardly open ng channel 25 is adapted to receive the lower edge of a pane of glass 2! at the front and panes of gass 28, 28 at the sides of the case. As shown more clearly in Fig. 12, the flange 25 is provided with spaced openings for the reception of screws 29 for anchoring the frame members to the top st of the base I.

The upri ht front members 4 comprise an angle member 3! provided with reduced ends 32, each having a threaded or tapped opening 33 for the reception of a screw or other securing means Fig. 11 shows in more detail the construction and cross-sectional contour of these end uprights 4 and shows the manner of securing the edges of the glass 2'! and 28 between the flanges 55 on these uprights and the flanges on the inner stop member 35. The member 36 is also provided with countersunk openings 31 adapted to be aligned with the openings 33 in the projecting ends 2 on the outer uprights for the reception of the screws 34.

The top frame 3 as shown more clearly in 2 and 12, has its front rail 39, its side rails 43 and its back rail 4| so contoured as to provide a continuous ledge or shelf 42 for receiving the plate glass A at the top of the showcase. The front rail 38 and side rails 49 are also provided with a downwardly opening channel 43 for receiving the upper edge of the glass 21 and 28 for retaining this glass in proper assembly.

Any suitable gasketing 44 may he employed to provide a seat upon which the plate glass A is dispwed, while any suitable mastic or the like may be provided to seal the edges of the glass 2'! and 28 seatin within the encompassing channels provided therefor. The. rear rail 4| of the top frame 3 is not only provided with the ledge or shoulder 42 for the plate glass, but is also provided with a downwardly projecting flange 45 having suitably spaced openings for the reception of the screws 45 received in aligned tapped openings in the top rail ll of the back frame 2.

In Fig. is disclosed an alternate construction of back frame 46 which is similar in construction and arrangement with the back f ame 2 except that it is provided with an additional vertical or upright rail or support 47 dispose between the end rails l3, I3. In this form of back frame as well as in the form shown in Fig. 3, a continuous flange or shoulder 48 is provided upon which the downwardly projecting flange 45 on the rear rail 4| of the top frame seats so as to facilitate assembly and aligning of the parts. In order that the parts may be secured at the corners, the corner uprights 4 are tapped at I 9 and the angle brackets 1 are provided with tapped openings 50 adapted to be aligned therewith to receive screws or other attaching means 5| as more clearly shown in Figs. 4, 6, 9, 11 and 12.

The showcase frame may be constructed of 6%:- truded, drawn or rolled metal sections, although the present construction may also be formed of a suitable pl stic compos t on. The. base I ma be of wood or other material suitable for the purpose, while the front and side bottom members are preferaby of a double or H-shaped channel provided with an inwardly projecting flange or leg 26. The upper channel 25 is adapted to retain an edge of the gless, while the lower channel it is adapted to receive and contain the attaching lugs 9, angle brackets l and screw heads for securing the parts together.

The front and side members 5 and 6, and the uprights 4 with the inner'stop members 36, may be constructed or formed in the conventional angle, or at any angle at which it is desired to mount adjacent sections or panels of gass. By making the sections 4 and 36 separate, the heavy center web of the uprights 4 may be readily machined for easy and quick attachment with the upper and lower channel members.

In the assembly and glazing of the present novel showcase, the front and side bottom members 5 and 6 and the uprights 4 are joined together in the manner disclosed. Next the back frame 2 is attached to the top 30 of the showcase base i and the assembled sections 4, 5 and 5 are attached to the back frame and to the showcase base by screws I5, 29 or other suitable securing means. The sliding door panels l9 and 20 are inserted vertically into their respective channes which are sufficiently deep and so formed as to permit their ready insertion, removal or replacement. The front and side glass panels21 and 28 are next inserted from the top into the channels provid ed in the uprights 4 and 36, and the channes providedat the opposite sides between the vertical flange 4 at the opposite ends of the back frame and a glass stop 52, with the glass ulti-. mael resting in the channels 25 in the side and front bottom sections. This greatly simpl'fles assembly over prior constructions where the glass panes are set in from the rear and stop members are applied from the inside to retain the glass in place. If desired, stationary glass panels may be sealed by a suitable gasketing material or mastic. Next the top frame 3 is. mounted in position and secured by screws or the like, after which the top glass A is placed in position.

It will be readily apparent that the invention comprehends a novel, simplified construction of show or display case consisting of preformed sections which may be shipped in knockdown condition and readily assembled upon any desired base at its ultimate location. This saves consid-. erable in shipping space and expense, and. the entire structure may be quickly assembled and glazed at the ultimate location by one having lit! tle skill and no prior experience.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. In a knockdown show case adapted to be readily assembled, channeled rails having an upper channel adapted to receive the lower edges of glass panels upon assembly and a bottom channel, and attaching means in the bottom channel including an angle member adapted to conformably seat in the bottom channels of adjacent rails for locking these rails together and reinforcing the assembly, a lug in each of the bot tom channels adjacent the ends of the angle member and attaching means carried by each lug for engaging the ends of the angle. member and locking it in adjusted position.

2. A metal knockdown show case of the type a ia ted to be readily assembled upon a base, ,rlsing a hack frame having a top, bottom and side rails jo ned together into'a preformed a d p rm n nt ssemb nd e ch pro ided with inwardly opening spaced channels for the reception of sliding panels, a front and a pair of side channel: members adapted to be attached at the inner ends to the back frame and there-at provided with interlocking projections for rigid assembly; channeled uprights secured to the corners of the front and side channel members, glass panels inserted from the top into the channels provided therefor, each upright including an outer angle member reduced at its opposite ends and an inner stop member for receiving and retaining therebetween the vertical edges of adjacent panels with the lower reduced ends secured in the corners of the front and side channel members, means for anchoring the lower reduced ends in the connecting channels of the front and side channel members, and a preformed top frame secured at the front to the reduced ends of the uprights and at the rear to the back frame and adapted to receive a glass top.

3. A metal knockdown showcase of the type adapted to be readily assembled and glazed, oomprising a preformed back frame formed to provide continuous spaced channels for the reception of the upper, lower and end edges of sliding glass panels, a front and side bottom members provided with an upwardly opening channel for receiving the lower edge of substantially upright glass panels, two or more uprights having their ends reduced and mounted at their lower reduced ends in the channels of said members and adapted to receive the adjacent vertical edges of the upright glass panels, and a preformed and continuous top frame secured at the front to the upper reduced ends of the uprights and at the rear to the back frame, said top frame being provided with an inwardly projecting ledge for the reception of a top glass panel and a downwardly opening channel along the front and sides thereof for the reception of the upper edges of the upright glass panels.

4. In a knockdown showcase of the type adapted to be readily assembled, front and side members comprising substantially H-shaped channel members formed with a top channel for receiving the lower edge of front and side glass panels and a bottom channel, channeled corner uprights mounted at the juncture of the front and side members for receiving the adjacent upright edges of the glass panels, and means in the bottom channel for securing and retaining the uprights in rigid position and for joining the front and side members, said means including an angle insert connecting the front and side members, lugs bridging the bottom channels adjacent the ends of the insert and attaching means carried by these lugs for anchoring the insert in the channels.

5. In a knockdown showcase of the type adapted to be readily assembled, a bottom section consisting of side and front members each having an upwardly opening channel for receiving the lower edges of glass panels and a downwardly opening channel, and securing means within the last mentioned channel for connecting adjoining members into a unit assembly and including an angle insert in and conforming to the shape of the channel, 9. lug bridging the channel and an adjusting screw carried by the lug and engaging an end of the insert for looking it in the channel.

6. A metal knockdown showcase adapted to be readily assembled upon a desired base, comprising a preformed, continuous back frame provided with inwardly opening channels for receiving the top, sides and bottom edges of sliding glass panels, front and side channel members having an upwardly opening channel for the reception of the lower edges of the front and side panels, uprights secured to and at the juncture of the front and side channel members and separate inner stop members detachably connected to and at the rear of the uprights and each provided with spaced flanges for receiving the adjoining edges of adjacent panels, and a preformed, continuous top frame provided with a downwardly opening channel at the front and sides for receiving the upper edges of the front and side panels, an inwardly extending horizontal flange on the inner periphery of the top frame for receiving a top glass and a flange at the rear edge adapted to be mounted on the back frame, and means for joining said preformed sections and mounting the assembly upon the base.

CARL KRAUSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 135,505 Arnold et al Feb. 4, 1873 1,158,568 Schraag Nov. 2, 1915 1,581,256 Wege Apr. 20, 1926 1,658,932 Morris Feb. 14, 1928 1,859,798 Rix May 24, 1932 1,986,417 Shoogh Jan. 1, 1935 2,475,079 Clouse et al. July 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 192,478 Great Britain Feb. 1, 1923 336,685 Great Britain Oct. 23, 1930 

